National Onion Rings Day

The story

The earliest known recipe of onion rings appeared in 1802 in The Art of Cookery Made Easy and Refined by John Mollard, a British chef. His recipe involved half-inch onion slices dipped in a batter of flour, cream, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese, deep-fried in lard, and served with melted butter and mustard.

Despite Mollard’s recipe, onion rings seem to have multiple origins. The Pig Stand, a Texas drive-in chain from the 1920s, claimed to have invented them. However, print recipes for “French Fried Onions” appeared as early as 1910, and a 1933 New York Times Magazine ad featured a version dipped in milk and dredged in flour.

Onion rings also have global roots. In India, battered and fried onion strips were sold as street food. Meanwhile, variations emerged using onion paste instead of rings.

It wasn’t until the 1960s, when A&W introduced onion rings at their drive-ins, that they became a fast-food staple. Today, they remain a beloved side dish, with countless batter variations, dipping sauces, and even a holiday, National Onion Rings Day, to celebrate their crispy perfection.

Who truly invented onion rings? The answer may be lost to history, but one thing is clear: we owe them a greasy debt of gratitude.